Method of producing oilcloth



R. H. WHLLCOX METHOD OF PRODUCING OILCLOTH I Filed Aug. 24, 1937 JNVENTOR.

Patented Oct. 4, 1938 UNITED STATES METHOD OF PRODUCING OILCLOTH Roderick H. Willcox,

Ohio, by

deceased, late of Columbus, Bertha P. Willcox and Richard V.

Willcox, co-executors, Columbus, Ohio Application August 24, 1937, Serial No. 160,658

2 Claims.

This invention relates to an oilcloth product and method of producing the same. It has to do, more specifically, with an oilcloth which is particularly useful as a table cover and which has the back thereof printed with a solid or all-over color so as to simulate a dyed effect and present a pleasing appearance.

In the making of oilcloth, the back of the fabric is usually left uncoated and uncolored. Consequently, the back is not very pleasing to the eye, since it appears to be gray or a soiled white. The back of oilcloth in the past has been left uncolored because, heretofore, a satisfactory and economical method has not been devised for coloring the back of the oilcloth.

It has been proposed in the past to coat both sides of the oilcloth with 'a heavy coating of oil paint applied in the usual manner so as to produce a smooth finished oil paint coating on both sides. When both sides of the cloth are coated in this manner, the product becomes too stiff and will readily crack. Also, if it is used as a table cover, the under side will tend to stick to the table since the cloth texture surface usually provided on the back of the oilcloth has been eliminated. Furthermore, coating both sides of the cloth in this manner would render the cost of the oilcloth prohibitive for the ordinary purposes for which it is used.

As previously stated, the back of the oilcloth is usually left uncolored or in the condition which results during the manufacture of the oilcloth. It has been customary, however, in making artificial leather, to dye the cloth which is to be coated in order that the back of the leather will be colored or dyed. In making the artificial leather, the original cotton fabric used for the backing is usually put in vats and dyed. The

fabric must then be taken out and wrung to squeeze out the excess liquid dye. Then, it must be washed or rinsed a number of times. It must then be stretched to bring it back to its originalsize. Thus, a number of time-consuming operations are necessary in order that the back of the artificial leather might be colored and present a more pleasing appearance. These operations make the resulting product quite expensive and, therefore, this method is not feasible in the making of oilcloth, inasmuch as it would make the cost of the oilcloth prohibitive.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide an oilcloth product which is particularly useful as a table cover and which has the back thereof printed with a solid or all-over color so as to simulate a dyed effect and which blends or (Cl. Ell-67.9)

harmonizes with the front coated surface of the cloth, thereby presenting a very pleasing appearance.

Another object of this invention is to provide an oilcloth product having the back thereof printed as indicated to simulate a dyed effect but having the cloth texture and cloth appearance on the back surface preserved.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method of making oilcloth wherein the back of the oilcloth may be printed with a solid all-over color in a very efficient and inexpensive manner.

Another object of this invention is to provide an oilcloth of the type indicated having the back thereof treated not only to make it more pleasing in appearance but also to make it water-repellent.

In its preferred form, this invention contemplates the provision of an oilcloth product which has the back thereof colored to simulate a dyed effect. This oilcloth product is made by printing a solid or all-over color on the back thereof in such a manner that dyed effect is produced. The printing is preferably accomplished by means of a printing roll which has a plurality of fine lines or depressions in the surface thereof so that, when it rotates in a bath of the coloring liquid, it will, due to capillary attraction, take up some of the coloring liquid and retain it until the roll contacts with the cloth to be printed. The coloring liquid retained in the small depressions will be absorbed by the cloth when it contacts with the roll. Since the entire surface of the roll is provided with these closely-spaced minute depressions, a solid or all-over color will be printed on the cloth. The color printed on the back of the cloth preferably blends or harmonizes with the color of the front surface of the cloth which is provided with a smooth oil paint coating produced in the usual way.

The coloring liquid used for printing the back of the cloth is of such a nature that when it is absorbed by the strands of clothit will make the back of the cloth water-repellent. In applying this liquid, it is preferably of such a consistency that it will be absorbed readily by the strands of the cloth but will not fill the interstices thereof in order that the cloth-like appearance and cloth texture of the back of the fabric will be preserved.

This will prevent the back surface of the cloth 4 from sticking to surfaces with which it contacts and will result in other advantages. Thus, the back surface of the oilcloth product will still have the comparatively rough'cloth texture and cloth appearance which is common to the ordinary oilcloth. However, the back surface will be so printed that it will simulate a dyed effect, and will be uniform throughout. Since it appears to be dyed cloth, the appearance of the back of the oilcloth product is greatly enhanced. Furthermore, printing the back surface in the manner indicated makes the back water-repellent.

This application is a continuation, in part, of the application of Roderick H. Willcox, Serial No. 37,202, filed August 21, 1935.

In the accompanying drawing, there is illustrated, more or less diagrammatically, the methd and apparatus which is preferably employed in making the product and the finished product is also illustrated.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a roll of oilcloth with the back surface thereof being printed according to this invention.

Figure 2 is a view of the printing roll which is preferably usedin printing the back of the oilcloth.

Figure 3 is a microscopic view of a portion of the printing surface of the printing roll.

Figure 4 is a section taken substantially on line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a perspective view showing a roll of oilcloth with the back of the cloth printed according to this invention.

With reference to the drawing, in Figure 5 is illustrated a roll of oilcloth made in accordance with this invention. It is to be understood that this figure is merely a diagrammatic illustration of the cloth inasmuch as it is practically impossible to illustrate in the drawing the exact appearance of the cloth. This oilcloth product has the front surface I thereof coated in the usual manner with a coating of heavy oil paint to provide a smooth finished coated surface. A part of this coating when applied'passes through the natural interstices in the fabric and is exposed on the opposite side thereof. The back 2 of the cloth, however, is not left in the unsightly condition which results during the manufacture of the oilcloth, as was done in the prior art, but is printed with a solid all-over color uniform throughout which is applied to the exposed surfaces of the oil paint forming the oilcloth material projecting through the openings in the fabric and to the exposed surface of the fabric adjacent said openings; and preferably blends or harmonizes with the front coated surface I of the cloth. The back surface is printed or colored in such a manner as to simulate a dyed effect, the cloth texture and cloth appearance being preserved.

Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, illustrate the method and apparatus which is preferably employed in printing the back side of the cloth. Figure 1 shows a roll of oilcloth 3 which is fed around a number of rollers 4 and then between a printing roller 5 and a pressure roller 6. It then passes over other rollers I and 8 into a drying oven 9.

The roller 6 is preferably of considerable weight and is permitted to press the cloth 3 firmly against the surface of the printing roller 5. The printing roller 5 rotates in a bath III of coloring liquid and a doctor blade H is provided for scraping off excess coloring material from the surface of the printing roll.

The printing surface of the printing roller 5 is illustrated best in Figures 2, 3 and 4. The printing surface I! of the printing roller is so made that a plurality of closely-spaced minute depressions l3 are formed therein. These depressions are illustrated in enlarged detail in Figures 3 and 4. However, they need not, necessarily, be of the same shape illustrated in Figure 3 although this shape is preferred. Due to capillary attraction caused by the innumerable depressions I3 in the printing surface of the printing roller, when the printing roller rotates in the bath of coloring liquid, all the depressions will become filled with such liquid and, consequently, the printing roller picks up a considerable amount of such liquid, as illustrated in Figure 4. In making this roll, a copper roll having a smooth surface is preferably employed. This roll is covered with a photogravure film and is then etched in order that the small depressions l3 will be formed therein. However, the small depressions may be formed by machining or in other ways. After the minute depressions are produced in the surface of the copper roll, it is preferably plated with chromium or other suitable metal in order to produce a harder and more lasting surface.

As previously indicated, the coloring liquid which is used in printing the back of the cloth is of such a nature that it will render the back surface of the cloth water-repellent. This liquid preferably comprises a liquid carrier which is immiscible with water and a suitable pigment. As the carrier, any oxidizing or drying oil may be employed. For example, oxidized sardine oil may be used. Synthetic resins or lacquers also may be employed. Any of the various pigments may be used, depending upon the color desired. In preparing this printing liquid, the pigment is mixed in the oil and the mixture is ground in a colloid mill. Then, enough naphtha or other solvent is added to bring it down to water consistency.

In printing the back of the cloth, the cloth is passed between the rollers 5 and 6, as indicated in Figure 1. The roller 5 rotates in the bath [0 of the printing or coloring liquid. The printing roller picks up the coloring liquid and the doctor blade I l wipes off the excess liquid from the surface of the roll, leaving only the coloring liquid that has been drawn into the minute depressions on the roll. The pressure drum or roll 6 presses the cloth 3 firmly against the surface of the printing roller. The coloring or printing liquid which remains in the fine depressions in the printing roll is taken up or absorbed by the cloth. The coloring liquid is evenly distributed throughout the entire back surface of the cloth so as to give it the apearance of having been dyed. Since the coloring liquid used is substantially of water consistency, the fibers or strains of the cloth will readily absorb it. However, the interstices in the cloth will not be filled and consequently, the cloth appearance and cloth texture at the back of the oilcloth will be preserved.

In manufacturing the oilcloth, it is preferable to first coat the cloth backing with one or several coatings of filler material in the usual way. After drying, the back side of the cloth is preferably printed in the manner discribed above. After it is so printed, it is passed through the oven 9 where the solvent used in the coloring liquid will be evaporated and, consequently, the back surface of thecloth will be dried. Then, the front surface of the cloth which has been coated with the filler coating is coated with one or more coatings of heavy oil paint to produce the smooth finished front surface. In this manner, the finished coating is not applied to the surface of the cloth until after the back of the cloth has been printed to simulate a dyed effect. Thus, there will be no danger of the finished surface of the oilcloth being smeared or otherwise injured during the printing of the back of the cloth.

It will be apparent from the description above that the oilcloth product of this invention is different from any product heretofore made. This oilcloth has the back thereof printed in such a manner that it simulates a dyed effect but the cloth appearance and cloth texture is preserved. The coloring liquid is applied to the back surface of the cloth in such a manner that a solid or allover color is produced and, consequently, the back of the oilcloth will appear tobe dyed. The color on the back of the oilcloth preferably blends or harmonizes with the color or colors of the finished front surface of theoilcloth so that the product is very pleasing in appearance. The coloring liquid not only serves to enhance the appearance of the back of the cloth but is of such a nature that it will make it water-repellent. The method which is employed for producing this oilcloth product is simple but very eiiicient and the oilcloth may be produced in an inexpensive manner. This method is much more simple and much more economical than the method previously discussed for producing a colored backing on artificial leather and which would make the cost prohibitive. The product produced by this method, however, will be as pleasing in appearance as a coated cloth product wherein the backing is dyed.

By the term cloth", used in the preceding description and the following claims, it is intended to cover fabrics of various kinds. By the term oilcloth", used in the description and the following claims, it is intended to cover other similar coated fabrics.

Having thus described the invention, What is claimed is:

1. The method of producing an oilcloth or similar product which comprises applying to the front surface only of a base cloth of textile material a coating of oil paint to form a finished surface, some of which paint passes through the inter stices of the cloth and appears upon the opposite side thereof, drying such coating, and thereafter printing the back surface of the cloth with a coloring liquid which is applied both to the coating of oil paint which appears through the interstices of the cloth and to the fabric of the cloth adjacent the same, said liquid being of such consistency that it will be absorbed by the back of the cloth to form a solid, uniformly applied color so as to simulate a dyed effect which will not destroy the cloth texture and cloth appearance at the back of the oilcloth.

2. The method of producing an oilcloth or similar product which comprises applying to the front surface only of a base cloth material of textile fabric a coating of oil paint to form a finished surface and which fills the interstices of the cloth and appears upon the reverse side, drying the same, and then printing the back surface of the cloth and the coating material which appears through the interstices thereof on the reverse side with a coloring liquid in such a. manner as to preserve the cloth appearance and cloth texture and which will produce a uniform, solid all-over color, and thereafter drying the product as thus formed.

BER'I'HA P. WILICOX,

RICHARD V. WILLCOX, Co-executors of the Last Will and Testament of Roderick H. Willcoz, Deceased. 

